1 year ago
Spanish constabulary person arrested a c who helped Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith interruption U.S. sanctions and question to North Korea, Reuters reported connected Dec. 1.
Local authorities reportedly discovered that Alejandro Cao de Benos was successful Barcelona nether a mendacious individuality and intended to question by bid to Madrid. Police arrested Cao de Benos astatine a Madrid bid presumption connected Nov. 30.
Cao de Benos was released without conditions aft appearing earlier a High Court justice connected Dec. 1. Reportedly, an extradition process is pending, though the U.S. indispensable formalize its extradition petition and supply documentation.
The accused insisted that helium would not beryllium extradited, writing connected X:
“There is nary extradition. The US accusation, successful summation to being false, does not beryllium successful Spain … My acknowledgment to each your messages and to the [Spanish police] for their bully attraction and idiosyncratic support.”
Cao de Benos noted that a peculiar bid was fixed nether erstwhile U.S. President Donald Trump. Though the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Cao de Benos and different idiosyncratic successful April 2022 aft Trump’s presidency ended, an FBI poster suggests that charges were underway arsenic aboriginal arsenic January.
Accused organized league and arranged travel
Virgil Griffith traveled to North Korea to enactment successful a crypto and blockchain league successful April 2019. He was arrested that November. In summation to violating sanctions, U.S. authorities said that Griffith provided accusation that could assistance North Korea evade sanctions and prosecute successful wealth laundering. Griffith was convicted successful 2021 and sentenced successful 2022; helium is presently successful prison.
The DOJ alleges that Cao de Benos, done his ain Korean Friendship Association and successful practice with a U.S. businessman named Christopher Emms, helped signifier the blockchain league that Griffith attended.
Furthermore, Cao de Benos and Emms allegedly recruited Griffith and arranged for him to question to the country. The DOJ besides states that Cao de Benos told Griffith that North Korea would not stamp his passport, thereby concealing Griffith’s travel. After the league concluded, Cao de Benos and Emms supposedly worked with Griffith connected different North Korea-related blockchain efforts.
Cao De Benos and Emms person each been charged with 1 number of conspiring to interruption and evade U.S. Sanctions for a maximum condemnation of 20 years successful prison. Both are presumed guiltless until recovered guilty.
The station Spain detains antheral who helped Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith participate North Korea appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.
English (US) 